[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 229 (Monday, November 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 65807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31788]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NV-050-1220-00]


Correction to Description of Occupancy and Camping Closure on 
Certain Public Lands Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Las 
Vegas Field Office

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Correction to Occupancy and Camping Closure on Selected Public 
Lands in Clark County, Nevada.

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SUMMARY: This notice corrects the legal and geographic description of a 
closure notice published in the Federal Register Vol. 63, No. 38, page 
9858 and 9859 on February 26, 1998 wherein the Field Office Manager of 
the Las Vegas Field Office announced the Closure of certain public 
lands in the Las Vegas Valley to occupancy and camping. The original 
description listed the southern boundary as generally following Lake 
Mead Blved. (State Route 147). The correct description should have been 
Lake Mead Drive (State Route 146). A correction has also been made to 
remove certain restrictions listed in the original Closure Notice that 
were confusing, redundant or gave the impression of Federal enforcement 
of State statute. The increase in population and growth in employment 
in the Las Vegas area, has attracted many short term and transient 
residents and workers. Many of these individuals set up residence on 
public lands under the guise of ``camping.'' This problem is 
particularly prone to occur on public lands within the urban Las Vegas 
Valley.
    Trash accumulation and human refuse are impacting public and 
private lands. There are no public facilities on any of these lands. 
The existing 14 day camping stay limit has been effective in correcting 
this situation. In addition, many of these lands are now adjacent to, 
or included within, private residential and commercial development due 
to the inter-mixed public-private land ownership pattern in Law Vegas 
Valley. This action is being taken to help ensure public safety, 
prevent unnecessary environmental degradation and prevent long-term 
occupancy of public lands.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Effective immediately upon publication (November 30, 
1998).

Closure Area

    Public Lands affective are within the following townships: All 
public lands within Townships 18 S to 22 S and Ranges 59 E to 64 E and 
certain lands in Townships 23 S and 24 S Ranger 61 E to 63 E MDM; which 
can generally be described as falling within the area encompassed by 
Lake Mead Drive (State Route 146), on the South; the Red Rock Canyon 
National Conservation Area Boundary; on the West; the Lee Canyon Road 
(State Route 156), Corn Creek Road and the southern boundary of the 
Desert Game Range on the North; and the Lake Mead National Recreation 
Area Boundary on the East.
    Maps depicting the area affected by this closure order are 
available for public inspection at the Las Vegas, Field Office, Bureau 
of Land Management.

Exceptions to Closure

    Camping locations which may be designated by the Las Vegas Field 
Office Manager for over night use. Such designations may be by the 
posting of appropriate signs, by publications in the Federal Register, 
or be made available to the public by other means deemed appropriate by 
the authorized officer.

Closure Restrictions

    Unless otherwise authorized, within the closure area no person 
shall:
    a. Camp or engage in camping.
    b. Park, stop, or leave personal property, whether attended or 
unattended.
    c. Park any vehicle in violation of posted restrictions, or in such 
a manner as to obstruct or impede normal or emergency traffic movement, 
create a safety hazard, or endanger any person, property, or natural 
feature. Vehicles so parked are subject to citation and impoundment at 
the owner's expense.
    d. Take, drive, or operate any vehicle through, around or beyond a 
restrictive sign, barricade, fence, or traffic control barrier or 
device.

Definitions

    ``Camp'' or Camping means the erection of a tent or shelter, 
preparing a sleeping bag or other bedding material for use, or the 
parking of a vehicle, motor home, or trailer for the apparent purpose 
of sleeping or overnight occupancy.
    Personal Property includes but is not limited to bicycles, vehicles 
(whether propelled by living or non-living power sources), motor 
vehicles, trailers, tents, campers, pets, and livestock.
    ``Public Lands'' means any lands or interest in lands owned by the 
United States and administered by the Secretary of the Interior through 
the Bureau of Land Management, except lands on the Outer Continental 
Shelf and lands held for the benefit of Indians, Aleuts or Eskimos (43 
CFR 1601.0-5(I)).
    This closure order is issued under the authority of 43 CFR 8364.1. 
Violation of any of the terms, conditions, or restrictions contained 
within this closure order, may subject the violator to citation or 
arrest, with a penalty of fine or imprisonment or both as specified by 
law.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Wolf, Recreation Manager, or Ron 
Crayton, Ranger, Ken Burger, Ranger, at the Bureau of Land Management, 
Las Vegas, Field Office, 4765 W. Vegas Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89108, 
telephone number (702) 647-5000.

    Dated: November 18, 1998.
Michael F. Dwyer,
Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 98-31788 Filed 11-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-M